Two-terminal, two-color indicator lamp assembly

ABSTRACT

A two-terminal, two-color indicator lamp assembly comprising two separately energizable filaments positioned behind differentcolored portions of the lamp envelope along the line of sight. The lamp envelope is mechanically connected to a pair of terminals to form a telephone slide base, and a pair of diodes is interconnected between said terminals and said filaments to enable energization of one filament only when the polarity of the first terminal is positive with respect to the polarity of the second terminal, and to enable energization of the other filament only when the polarity of said second terminal is positive with respect to the first terminal.

United States Patent Demas [54] TWO-TERMINAL, TWO-COLOR INDICATOR LAMP ASSEMBLY [72] Inventor: Nickolas P. Demas, Cranford, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Wagner Electric Corporation 221 Filed: 0a. 12, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 79,737

[52] US. Cl. ..315/65, 313/115, 313/112, 315/133, 315/135 [51] Int. Cl ..HOlj 13/46 [58] Field of Search ..313/110, 112, 115; 315/64, 315/65, 131, 133, 135, 130, 132; 324/133 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,666,876 4/1928 Price ..313/112 1,947,243 2/1934 Burn ..313/112 X 3,304,498 2/1967 Myers ..324/133 [451 Oct. 10,1972

3,319,115 5/1967 Smith ..315/66 Primary Examiner-Roy Lake Assistant Examiner.1ames B. Mullins Attorney-Eyre, Mann & Lucas [5 7] ABSTRACT A two-terminal, two-color indicator lamp assembly comprising two separately energizable filaments positioned behind different-colored portions of the lamp envelope along the line of sight. The lamp envelope is mechanically connected to a pair of terminals to form a telephone slide base, and a pair of diodes is interconnected between said terminals and said filaments to enable energization of one filament only when the polarity of the first terminal is positive with respect to the polarity of the second terminal, and to enable energization of the other filament only when the polarity of said second terminal is positive with respect to the first terminal.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures TWO-TERMINAL, TWO-COLOR INDICATOR LAMP ASSEMBLY The present application relates to a two-terminal, two-color indicator lamp assembly having the capability of providing light signals of different colors in response to the application of voltages of opposing polarities across the terminals. More specifically, the lamp assembly disclosed herein comprises an envelope having first and second filaments and related support means enclosed therein, with the filaments being positioned behind different-colored portions of the viewing surface of the envelope. The first and second terminals are mechanically connected to the lamp envelope, and first and second diodes are interconnected between first and second filaments and the first and second terminals to enable energization of the first and second filaments only in response to applied voltages between said terminals of first and second polarities, respectively. The disclosed lamp assembly has utility in testing equipment for telephone apparatus and in the key sets of telephones which are part of an aural-visual communication installation, for example.

A better understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a view of a two-terminal, two-color lamp assembly exploded along its longitudinal axis (L/A), representing a preferred embodiment of the applicants invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the circuit of the lamp assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view (i.e., along the line of sight) of the lamp assembly shown in exploded form in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are, respectively, first and second side elevations of the lamp assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 1, the lamp comprises an envelope 12 having a fiat end comprising a clear (i.e., colorless) portion 14 and a colored portion 16. Filaments l8 and are situated adjacent the clear and colored portions 14 and 16, respectively. Filament 18 is disposed between a first pair of support members 22 and 24, while filament 20 is disposed between a second pair of support members 26 and 28. The pairs of support members 22, 24 and 26, 28 extend through insulating members 30 and 32, respectively, which serve to space the support members from one another within the lamp envelope.

The upper portion of the lamp envelope 12 is substantially cylindrical, while the lower portion tapers down to the pointed region 34, through which the lamp is evacuated during manufacture and tipped-off. Above this pointed region 34, each of the support members 22, 24, 26 and 28 has a portion extending through and exterior of the envelope 12 to form leads 36, 38, 40 and 42, respectively.

Diodes 44 and 46 are positioned on opposite sides of the tapered lower portion of envelope 12 of the lamp assembly. The anodes of diodes 44 and 46 are connected to lead portions 36 and 40, respectively, and to terminals 48 and 50, respectively, by a conducting cement. The cathodes of diodes 44 and 46 are connected to one another and to each of the lead portions 38 and 42 to form a four-way junction.

Referring now specifically to the schematic diagram of FIG. 2, it'will be readily appreciated that, when terminal 48 is positive with respect to terminal 40, current will be shunted past filament 18 by diode 44 and, being blocked by diode 46, will flow through filament 20 to terminal 50. Thus, when terminal 48 is sufficiently positive with respect to terminal 50, a first indicating light will be generated. On the other hand, if terminal 50 is sufficiently positive with respect to terminal 48, current will be shunted past filament 20 by diode 46 and, being blocked by diode 44, will flow through filament 18 to terminal 48. Thus, whenever terminal 40 is sufficiently positive with respect to terminal 48, a second indicating light will be generated.

FIG. 3 is an end-on view of the lamp assembly shown in exploded form in FIG. 1, showing the clear portion 14 and the colored portion 16 of the flat end portion of the lamp envelope 12. This view illustrates the appearance of the lamp assembly when viewed along the line of sight, which coincides with the longitudinal axis LIA in the embodiment shown. Also shown in the manner in which the portions 48a, 48b, and 48c of terminal 48 and the portions 50a, 50b and 500 of terminal 50 extend about and contact the adjacent periphery of the lamp envelope 12, to which the terminals are secured by conducting cement.

FIG. 4 is a first side elevation of the lamp assembly shown in exploded form in FIG. 1 and shown in FIG. 3. This view shows the manner in which the diodes 44 and 46 are mounted in the space between the tapered lower portion of the lamp envelope 12 and the adjacent terminals 48 and 50. Specifically, the diodes 44 and 46 are angled toward the location at which their cathodes join in a four-way junction with lead portions 38 and 42 on the side of the lamp assembly opposite the side shown in this figure. The pointed region 34 of the envelope 12 is embedded in a solidified insulating cement 52, which also serves to separate and insulate portions 48d and 50d of terminals 48 and 50, respectively. The anodes of diodes 44 and 46 are electrically connected to terminals 48 and 50, respectively, by a conductive cement which also serves to secure the terminals to the lamp envelope 12 (connections not visible). The spatial relationships of the insulating members 30 and 32 and the support members extending therethrough are also illustrated in this figure.

FIG. 5 is a second side elevation of the lamp assembly shown in exploded form in FIG. 1 and shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, this view being produced by rotating the lamp assembly as shown in FIG. 4 about its longitudinal axis (L/A) by clockwise. The various angularly related portions 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d of terminal 50 are shown in this figure, as is the disposition of filament 20 within the lamp envelope 12.

The advantages of the present invention, as well as certain changes and modifications of the disclosed embodiment thereof will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the clear portion 14 may also be colored to contrast more sharply with the colored portion 16. Instead of being designed for endon viewing in accordance with the preferred embodiment disclosed herein, a lamp assembly adapted for side viewing could be readily produced by spacing the filaments l8 and 20 apart along the longitudinal axis LIA of the lamp and coloring an annular segment of the upper cylindrical portion of the lamp envelope behind which one of the filaments is located along the line of sight. A single lamp assembly adapted for both end-on and side viewing may be formed simply by combining the features of the end-on and side viewing lamps. Also,

the anode and cathode connections of the diodes 44 and 46 could be reversed to enable energization of filament 18 when terminal 48 is positive with respect to terminal 50 and energization of filament 20 when terminal 50 is positive with respect to terminal 48. It is the applicants intention to cover all such changes and modifications which could be made to the embodiment of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A lamp assembly comprising:

1. a lamp envelope having first and second portions of which at least said second portion is translucently colored;

2. first and second filaments spaced apart within said lamp envelope, said first filament being positioned behind said first portion along the line of sight and said second filament being positioned behind said second portion along the line of sight;

3. first and second supporting means operative to retain said first and second filaments, respectively, in position within said lamp envelope, and having lead portions extending through and exterior of said lamp envelope;

4. first and second terminals mechanically connected to said lamp envelope and insulated from one another; and

5. polarity-sensing circuit means interconnected between said lead portions and said first and second terminals to enable energization only of said second filament when said first terminal is at a minimum predetermined positive potential with respect to said second terminal, and to enable energization only of said first filament when said second terminal is at a minimum predetermined positive potential with respect to said first terminal.

2. The lamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first and second portions of said lamp envelope form a substantially flat end.

3. The lamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first portion of said lamp envelope is clear.

4. The lamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first and second supporting means each comprises a pair of support members extending through first and second insulating members, respectively, which serve to space each support member of each pair from one another and to space each pair of support members from the other.

5. The lamp assembly according to claim I wherein said polarity sensing means comprises first and second diodes, each having its cathode connected to one side of each filament, and said first diode having its anode connected to the other side of said first filament and to said terminal, and the anode of said second diode being connected to the other side of said second filament and to said second terminal.

6. The lamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein said lamp envelo e has a pointed re ion mechanicall connected to porfions of said first an second termmal by an insulating cement which also serves to separate and insulate said first and second terminals from one another.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 97, 02 Dated October 10, 1972 Inventor(s) Nickolas P. Demas It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 5,(Col. l, Line 26),Line 6: "first" omitted between "said" and "terminal" Signed and sealed this 13th day of March 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.PLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCI-LALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents =Q=w Po-1050 (10-69) USCOMWDC BOWFPPBQ U.Sv GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 0-366-33A 

1. A lamp assembly comprising:
 1. a lamp envelope having first and second portions of which at least said second portion is translucently colored;
 2. first and second filaments spaced apart within said lamp envelope, said first filament being positioned behind said first portion along the line of sight and said second filament being positioned behind said second portion along the line of sight;
 3. first and second supporting means operative to retain said first and second filaments, respectively, in position within said lamp envelope, and having lead portions extending through and exterior of said lamp envelope;
 4. first and second terminals mechanically connected to said lamp envelope and insulated from one another; and
 5. polarity-sensing circuit means interconnected between said lead portions and said first and second terminals to enable energization only of said second filament when said first terminal is at a minimum predetermined positive potential with respect to said second terminal, and to enable energization only of said first filament when said second terminal is at a minimum predetermined positive potential with respect to said first terminal.
 2. first and second filaments spaced apart within said lamp envelope, said first filament being positioned behind said first portion along the line of sight and said second filament being positioned behind said second portion along the line of sight;
 2. The lamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first and second portions of said lamp envelope form a substantially flat end.
 3. The lamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first portion of said lamp envelope is clear.
 3. first and second supporting means operative to retain said first and second filaments, respectively, in position within said lamp envelope, and having lead portions extending through and exterior of said lamp envelope;
 4. first and second terminals mechanically connected to said lamp envelope and insulated from one another; and
 4. The lamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first and second supporting means each comprises a pair of support members extending through first and second insulating members, respectively, which serve to space each support member of each pair from one another and to space each pair of support members from the other.
 5. The lamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein said polarity sensing means comprises first and second diodes, each having its cathode connected to one side of each filament, and said first diode having its anode connected to the other side of said first filament and to said terminal, and the anode of said second diode being connected to the other side of said second filament and to said second terminal.
 5. polarity-sensing circuit means interconnected between said lead portions and said first and second terminals to enable energization only of said second filament when said first terminal is at a minimum predetermined positive potential with respect to said second terminal, and to enable energization only of said first filament when said second terminal is at a minimum predetermined positive potential with respect to said first terminal.
 6. The lamp assembly according to claim 1 wherein said lamp envelope has a pointed region mechanically connected to portions of said first and second terminals by an insulating cement which also serves to separate and insulate said first and second terminals from one another. 